Irrigation meter



May 22, 1928. d W. L. MARDEN IRRIGATION METER Filed June 18, 1927 Patented May' z2, 192s.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

WILLIAM L. MABDEN, 0F NEW YORK, N. `Y.,-.ASSIG1\TOR TO NEPTUNE METER COJI- PANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATIGN OF NEW JERSEY.

IRRIGATION METER.

Application led June 18,` 1927. 'Serial No. 199,681. i.

For irrigation purposes, water is commonly conducted through open ditches and therefore carries with it more or less solid material which would interfere with or prevent the operation of the ordinary metering devices which are sometimes placed in tubes,

through which the flow is directed, at points where it is desired to meter the flow. This diiiiculty has prevented the use for this purpose of meters which approach accuracy in their indication and has left the measurement of theiiow under such conditions to be largely a matter of estimate or even guess work. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide metering devices which shall be adapted for the 'particular use referred to, shall give a fair indication of the rate of flow at any time and the volume ot' flow in a given period of elapsed time, and shall not be liable to havetheir operation prevented or interfered with by solid matter carried with the water.

In accordance with the invention, the tube (which may belong or short) through which the entire flow is directed, iilling the tube, has formed in its wall an orifice, through which project into the current the lowermost paddles 0f a paddle wheel,'which is mounted with its axis outside of the tube. Associated with the paddle wheel in the usualmanner are a reduction gearing and a register of `the ugual or suitable construction. Thesewdlliing parts are mounted in or supported by a saddle, which may either be an integral part ofthe tube, as in new construction, or may be clamped upon the tube, as when the metering devices are applied to the tube in place.

. The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a View in transverse sectional elevation, showing a tube with the improved metering devices supported in operative relation therewith by a saddle clamped upon the tube.

- Figure 2 is a detail view in horizontal section on the plane indicated vby the broken line 2-2of Figure 1.

The tube a, through which is directed the entire flow of water to be metered, is shown as having in its wall an oriticewb to permit the projection into the current within the tube but not to the' opposite side of the blades 0f a paddle wheel c', the hub c owhich is mounted on a shaft d. The latter is mounted in suitable bearings in a frame piece e, which is formed as a part of or is supported by a saddle f. The latter is fitted closely upon the outside of the tube, with an interposed packing f', if necessary, and is securely held to the tube by clamps g.

To one end of the frame piece e is secured a casing h which supports the usual reduction gearing h', and upon the casing L is supported the usual register, indicated suiiiciently at i and driven from the gearing h through gearsjil as usual.`

It will be obvious that as the paddles of the paddle wheel c pro'ect into the flowing water in the tube though not to the opposite side of the tube, the meter gearing and register will be actuated thereby in accordance with the flow and the flow will therefore be metered with sutlicient accuracy. It will also be observed that as the paddles only of the paddle wheel project intothe flow only at their extremities, to one side of the axis of rotation, its rotation cannot be interfered with seriously by any solid matter carried along with the water, the exposed portions of the blades of the paddle wheel yielding to the impact of solid matter even as they l yield to the flow of water.

It will be understood that various changes can be made'in details of construction and arrangement to suit different conditions of .use or -the application of the device in the field, to a section of tubing in place, or in the sho to a section of tubing specially'prepared or introduction into the line..

I claim as my invention:

1. In an irrigation meter, the combina-` tion of a tube through which'th'e flow of water is directed and having an aperture in its wall, a supporting frame secured upon the tube and covering the aperture, a shaft mounted inthe frame outside of the tube, a paddle wheel mounted on the shaft and having its blades projected into the tube -through the aperture but not to the opposite side of mounted in the saddle and frame piece out- 10 the tube, and a register in operative relaside of the tube, a paddle wheel mounted on tion Wit-h the shaft. the shaft and havinfy its blades projected 2. In an irrigation meter, the combination into the tube through the aperture, and a 5 "of n. tube through which the How of water register in operative relation with the shaft.

is directed and having an aperture in its This specification signed this 13th day 15 wall, u saddle und frame piece, means to of June, A. D. 1927. clamp said saddle andframe piece upon the `tube and covering the aperture, a shaft y WILLIAM L. MARDEN. 

